NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Baby uplifts: Distressing new videos emerge showing newborns being uplifted

By Bernard Orsman & Anna Leask
NZ Herald·
5 Sep, 2019 11:45 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The video, shared to social media, show police uplifting a baby from Auckland Hospital.

The video, shared to social media, show police uplifting a baby from Auckland Hospital.

New videos have emerged of newborn babies being uplifted by police under orders of Oranga Tamariki in Auckland.

In one case two family members were arrested for obstruction as they tried to block police from taking a newborn.

But OT stands by its practices, saying its first priority is the safety of babies, children and young people.

The first video spans nearly 20 minutes and shows a group of five police officers entering a room at Auckland Hospital to carry out a court-ordered uplift of a newborn baby.

The baby's mother is breastfeeding the infant as members of the family argue with police - and film the exchange on their phones.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Look at this New Zealand," a female relative says.

"Oranga Tamariki trying to take our baby. This is what they do. They sent all these people here and they said we can't go home today with our baby.

"We are trying to fight for our baby. For not one more baby to be taken.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"This is just shocking New Zealand."

She says the mother has been in hospital for three days giving birth and that the police have arrived within 24 hours of the baby being born.

A number of women gather around the breastfeeding mother, blocking her from police.

"We're not going to get into any violence because right now it's about baby," the woman filming says.

"Baby is safe, baby is well taken care of."

Police tell the family there is a court order to remove the baby and warn them to leave the room or they will be arrested.

The relatives refuse and two are arrested for obstruction.

In the second, unrelated, video a baby is uplifted by police from a West Auckland property.

A young European woman is seen holding a baby, sitting on a driveway and talking with three police officers and two women dressed in plain clothes.

The officers then restrain the woman and take the baby from her.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She screams, stands up and punches a male police officer.

As she screams and wails in distress, it takes two officers to restrain her as a neighbour tries to calm her.

Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive services for children and families (North) Glynis Sandland acknowledged the distress of the families involved.

"Bringing a child into care is always an incredibly difficult and emotional situation for families," she said.

"It is never easy, but ultimately Oranga Tamariki under law has an absolute obligation to the child and their wellbeing.

"Our role is to keep children and young people safe.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Sometimes, this means that a child needs to be removed from an unsafe environment but this is never done without the Family Court first determining that all other avenues have been exhausted."

She would not be drawn on the circumstances that led to each uplift.

The second video shows a European woman removed by police in a driveway.
The second video shows a European woman removed by police in a driveway.

"We're unable to go into specifics about these cases," she said.

"While footage has been shared on social media, the whanau have not given permission for their private information to be discussed publicly.

"We also have an obligation to protect the identity and privacy of the child."

She commended police and OT staff for their work.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Both our social workers and police have a difficult job to do in such circumstances.

"Emotions are high and the filming affects engagement with families at a highly sensitive time."

Questions were raised about why so many police were sent to uplifts and why five officers were needed at the Auckland Hospital situation.

"Decisions around the deployment of police staff are operational decisions made on a case-by-case basis and involve a number of factors and the number of staff deployed ultimately rests with police," a spokesman said.

He confirmed the two people arrested in the hospital room were later released without charge.

"Any further comment about this matter will need to be referred to Oranga Tamariki," said the spokesman.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The two incidents follow widespread outrage after Oranga Tamariki attempted to remove a 6-day-old baby boy from his 19-year-old mother at Hawke's Bay Hospital on May 6.

The Family Court ordered the uplift on the grounds the child's wider family had a background of domestic violence and drug use - a claim disputed by the whānau.

Supporters tried to stop the baby being taken, police were called to the hospital and the ministry backed off, but the case is still going through a Family Court process.

Oranga Tamariki has subsequently come under fire over its uplift policy and how they disproportionately affect Māori.

According to Oranga Tamariki documentation, three Māori babies a week on average are being uplifted from maternity hospitals all over the country within three months of their births.

At the time, Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft said that it had become apparent that the community was "profoundly uneasy" with the way our current care and protection of tamariki Maori was carried out.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In June Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier announced he would conduct a wide-ranging investigation.

"I think the public needs assurance that the right policies and processes are in place for their protection while at the same time safeguarding the rights of whānau," he said.

"My investigation is focused on what a good system should look like."

Oranga Tamariki is also doing its own internal investigation into the Hawke's Bay case, and the Children's Commissioner had launched a thematic review focused on Māori children aged 0-3 months.

Minister for Children Tracey Martin earlier said she was "particularly sorry to see the events that unfolded in the hospital that day".

"Everybody in that room has been impacted negatively and we need to come back together and work together constructively, not just for this whanau but also for the whanau of the future and the whanau that are actually in the process now."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Herald NOW

Herald NOW's panel on Jaffas and the controversial Warehouse ad

New Zealand|auckland

'Tragic': Teenage boy dies after West Auckland crash

01 Jul 10:29 PM
Entertainment

Country music is booming in New Zealand, and are Jaffas actually any good?

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Herald NOW's panel on Jaffas and the controversial Warehouse ad

Herald NOW's panel on Jaffas and the controversial Warehouse ad

Maurice Wiliamson and Sarah Sparks join Ryan Bridge to talk about the decision to stop making Jaffas and the removal of a controversial Warehouse ad. Video / Herald NOW

'Tragic': Teenage boy dies after West Auckland crash

'Tragic': Teenage boy dies after West Auckland crash

01 Jul 10:29 PM
Country music is booming in New Zealand, and are Jaffas actually any good?

Country music is booming in New Zealand, and are Jaffas actually any good?

Premium
Council confirms cost of new parking system after Ombudsman intervenes

Council confirms cost of new parking system after Ombudsman intervenes

01 Jul 10:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP